Continuous hydraulic ram



March 9, 1965 J. M. HOFF 3,172,370

CONTINUOUS HYDRAULIC RAM Filed Oct. 16, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Jan V. //a/f A TT( March 9, 1965 J. M. HOFF 3,172,370

CONTINUOUS mnmwuc RAM Filed Oct. 16, 19.61 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Jean /'.7/70f/ United States Patent 3,172,370 CONTINUOUS HYDRAULIC RAM Jean M. Hoff, 157 Sullivan, Wyandotte, Mich. Filed Oct. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 145,413 13 Claims. (Cl. 103-232) This disclosure constitutes a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 804,754, filed April 7, 1959, now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to the art of hydraulic compression and more particularly to a method and apparatus for continuously compressing a stream of fluid hydraulically, whereupon the pressurized stream is reversely directed into a vertically upward direction and the upwardly flowing stream is separated into bubble-rich and liquid-rich components, thereby permitting the method and apparatus to be efficiently usedin connection with either a hydraulic ram or a hydraulic compressor.

The principal difference between a hydraulic ram and a hydraulic compressor is in the size of the air take-off line or the flow rate permitted in it. If the air take-off line is made large enough to handle a substantial volume of water in addition to the compressed air, the unit has the characteristics of a hydraulic ram. The advantages disclosed and claimed in connection with the present invention are applicable to both hydraulic rams and hydraulic compressors.

In accordance with the disclosures of the prior art in both hydraulic rams and compressors, it has been required that a bubble lean stream pass downwardly while bubbles were passing upwardly countercurren-t to the liquid.

In order to effect that phenomenon, a comparatively slow liquid speed is required. This has been possible with the prior art structures because usually there is incorporated a large cross-sectional area to accommodate a low speed of downward movement of the liquid, thereby permitting the bubbles to escape in a countercurrent direction upwardly.

As a matter of fact, in one exemplary disclosure such a large cross-section is provided that river silt settles out and there is provided a separate mud pump to remove the slit.

The standard so-called Taylor hydraulic compressor provides a horizontal tunnel which is usually hundreds of feet long. While there is quite evidently a sizable horizontal component to the movement of the water in such an apparatus, the bulk of the water has to travel downward also from most points within the separation chamber in order to get into the water discharge pipe. To that extent there is a countercurrent movement of air and water within such apparatus. Even if such a unit were built with its water discharge pipe entrance almost level with the liquid surface, which has never been done because of the large volume of air bubbles which would be lost, the bubble flow at best would be at right angles to the liquid flow, and accordingly, considerable time is required for separation to be effected.

All of the prior art designs have contemplated the utilization of large cross-sections at the point where bubble separation takes place. Accordingly, the structures of the prior art have been very exensive to build.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a gas-liquid mixture is driven downwardly through a downcomer, thereby to develop hydrostatic pressure whereupon, at the bottom of the downcomer, the gasliquid mixture is discharged into a confined zone of re stricted size, thereby to reversely flow the stream in an upward direction. The upwardly flowing stream is then separated by deflector means so that the bubble-rich fluid is directed into a collection zone.

Accordingly, by utilizing the method of the present 3,172,370 Patented Mar. 9, 1965 invention wherein the upfiowing stream of gas and liquid is split into an upflow-ing gas-lean portion and an upflowing gas-rich portion by various baffle or deflector means, the separation can be carried out at high liquid velocity. It is thus practical and feasible to install the apparatus of the present invention in a drilled hole whose diameter is only a fraction of the diameter required in accordance with the teachings of the prior art patentees.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an improved method and means for separating a gas-liquid mixture into bubble-rich and liquid-rich components.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus in the art of hydraulic compression wherein water can be directed to a higher elevation than that at which it is found.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved means for elevating water or other liquids with high efliciency and without requiring pumping apparatus having moving parts.

A still further object of the present invention is to separate an upflowing gas-liquid mixture into an upflowing gas-rich stream and an upfiowing gas-lean stream by suitable bafiie means.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide hydraulic compression means wherein water may be elevated to a level higher than the source and wherein oxygen-rich air may be collected at a water-rich discharge at the same level or a lower level than the source water.

Many other advantages, features and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which preferred structural embodiments of hydraulic compression arrangements are shown by way of illustrative example. It is believed that the methods contemplated bythe present invention will become clear to those versed in the art upon reviewing the detailed disclosure of the apparatus provided for practicing the method steps.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an hydraulic compressor installation embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view similar to the lower portion of FIGURE 1 and illustrating an additional structural modification of the baffle means incorporated in such an arrangement;

FIGURE 3 is a view somewhat comparable to FIG- URE 1 but showing an alternative construction arrange: ment wherein the baffles are physically separated from the downcomer; and

FIGURE 4 and FIGURE 5 are fragmentary views similar to the lower portions of FIGURES 1 and 3 and illustrating additional structural modifications of the baffle means incorporated in such arrangements.

As shown on the drawings:

In a system using an hydraulic compressor, the compression of a gaseous fluid is effected by drawing a fluid such as air from the atmosphere into a stream of downwardly directed water and passing the mixture into a collection and separation chamber or zone located at a considerably vertical distance below the liquid source elevation.

In the collection or separating zone, unabsorbed vgase are liberated at a pressure depending upon .the effective hydrostatic head in the collection or separating chamber. Thus, for example, compressed air may be recovered from the separating chamber while the liquid may be directed to a tail race at a substantially lower level than the height at which the liquid is originally introduced.

One of the phenomena which characterizes such bydraulic compressor arrangements, results from the fact that oxygen is considerably more soluble in water than is nitrogen and, accordingly, compressed air recovered by means of an hydraulic compressor is lean with respect to oxygen, while the air remaining with the Waterleavmg the separating chamber is considerably oxygen-enriched. For example, at C., 1000 cos. of Water Wlll contain 18.68 cos. of air. This air contains about 34.03% oxygen as compared to the normal oxygen content of 21% in ordinary air.

Accordingly, with an hydraulic compressor arrangement, oxygen-enriched air may be recovered and directed to a point of utilization.

Thus, although the present mvention finds an appropriate use in the recovery of either oxygen-enriched or n trogen-enriched air, or air at increased pressure, the principles of the present invention are of general applicability and it is contemplated that all of the advantages of an hydraulic compressor may be favorably exploited by the use of the present invention even though for specific purposes the hydraulic compressor of t e present invention may be principally intended to direct liquid to a higher 1 elevation than the elevation at which such liquid is found.

For example, for irrigation purposes, industrial use or a as an urban water supply, it may be desirable to send water to a higher elevation than the elevation of the water source. Where a river is available and a dam can be constructed, the present invention provides a means for raising a portion of the water to a higher elevation than the river at relatively high efficiency and with a low capital investment.

As shown in FIGURE 1, there is a river bed 11 and it is contemplated that a vertical recess in the form of a drilled hole or a large well casing extends downwardly into the ground such as the river bed 11, thereby to form a collecting and separating chamber 23.

A supply of liquid shown at 10 is collected behind a dam 12. A liquid inlet '18 extends through the darn 12 and enters a hopper 14 of a downcomer indicated generally at 13. The downcomer comprises a generally cylindrical pipe which is disposed vertically. A plurality of air tubes 24 are arranged in association with the downcomer 13 and extend into the atmosphere above the level of the liquid inlet 18 in the hopper 14p'so that a mixture of absorbing liquid and entrained air is directed downwardly through the downcomer 13 at a conduit portion shown more specifically at 21.

. The lower end of the downcomer 13 has an outlet 22 located adjacentthe bottom wall 24 of the chamber 23.

Although the conduit portion 21 of the downcomer 13 is of a lesser cross-sectional area than the chamber 23, it is contemplated by the present invention that the chamber '23 be sufficiently restricted in size to comprise a confined zone which will have the eflect of reversely turning the direction of the stream of gas-liquid mixture exiting the downcomer 13 at the outlet 22, thereby to flow the gasliquid mixture upwardly and concentrically outwardly of the conduit portion 21 of the downcomer 13.

Thus, the'liquid discharge from the downcomer 13 rises upwardly and flows through an annulus 52 formed in the chamber 23 by a collecting hood 53 having side wall portions spaced from the adjoining side walls of the chamber :23 which, in this form of the invention, may be understood as'being of generally cylindrical configuration. The side walls of the collecting hood 53 are also shown in generally concentric outwardly spaced relation to the cylindrical conduit portion 21 of the downcomer 13. The collecting hood 53 includes an upper wall 54 having an opening 56 connected to a passage-forming means 57.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, bathe means or deflector means are provided to separate the upwardly flowing stream into bubble-rich and liquid-rich components. Thus, a plurality of vertically "spaced apart conical baflle means are indicated at 58, 59, 60 and 61. The conical "baflie means 58 61 are carried by the downcomer 13 and constitute conical sections arranged to deflect bubble-rich fluid towards the center of the collecting hood 53. In the specific arrangement of FIGURE 1, the lowermost baflies 59 and 58 are uniformly vertically spaced apart from one another and from the baflle 60, While the uppermost baffles 60-and 61 are moreclosely-spaced together than the lowermost baflles. Thus, the collection of bubble-rich fluid is enhanced.

The annulus 52 forms a passage for the liquid-rich fluid, while the passage-forming means 57 forms a past sageway whereby the bubble-rich liquid is directed upwardly.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the baffles can be constructed and arranged in the manner of the baflles 58a, 59a, 60a and 61a. The uppermost bafiles 60a and 61a may have a relatively steeper slope with respec't to one another than the lowermost baffles 58:: and 59a and, like the baffles 58- 61, the uppermost baflles 60a and 61a may be more closely spaced together than the lowermost baflies 58a and 59a. Such a structural arrangement, again, enhances the deflection of bubble-rich fluid towards the center of the chamber herein shown at 23a. It will be understood that a collecting hood53a is provided to overlie the bafiles as in the arrangement of FIGURE 1 and substantially covers the chamber 23a. Conduit means 57a are also connected to an opening 56a formed in the upper wall 54a of the collecting hood.

Referringnow to FIGURE 3, the bed of the lake or body of water is shown at and contains a supply of water 111 retained by a dam 112. An inlet conduit 118 directs liquid into a hopper 114 of a downcomer structure shown generally at 113 and having a vertical cylindrical conduit portion 121. Air tubes are shown at 124 for entraining a supply of air into the liquid stream.

A hole is drilled in the bed 110and is shown at 123. The downcomer has a discharge opening 122 spaced adjacent the bottom wallof the hole 123 as shown at 124. The confined space provided by the bottom wall 124 and the side walls of the hole 123. reversely flow the downcoming gas-liquid stream in an upwardly flowing direction in the space concentrically outwardly of the downcomer conduit 121 and interiorly of theside walls of the hole 123. i

In this form of the invention, a vertical row of conical baffles is provided, however, the conical baifles are con nected to the side walls of the hole 123, rather than to the downcomer 121. For example, the .conical baffles are shown as including baflles 159 and spacing the battles away from'the outer wall are small plates 16% which may be connected in firm assembly to the baffles. Theplates may occupy a small segment of the totalbaffle periphery and can be attached at random or in spaced'relation to form a'spiralpattern. In any event, the small plates 160 assist in intercepting and deflecting bubbles on addition to centering the baflie or deflector unit in the shaft provlded by the hole 123. The upper baffles, as shown at 161, may be of steeper slope and may be closer together than the lower baflles, as previously explained in connection with the embodiments of FIGURES 1 and 2.

A collecting hood is shown at 153 and overlies the baffles 159, 161. The collecting hood has an upper wall 154 with an opening. 156, as wellas side walls 155 which are closely spaced to the adjoining walls of the shaft or hole 123, thereby to form an annulus 152 through which theliquid-rich stream flows upwardly. A conduit means 157 is connected to the opening 156 and leads to a tank 147 and may be conducted to a point of utilization through a conduit 148 controlled by a valve 145. The change: from substantial superatmospheric pressure in the chamber 123 to ambient pressure at the housing147 causes theliberation of substantial amounts of. nitrogen-enriched air, which air is isolated and collected in the tank 147 and may be conducted to a point of utilization through a conduit 151 having a valve therein.

An enclosure '70 is also provided at the top of the hole 123 or'shaft. The 'er'1clos'ure70 has an outlet38. The

change from substantial superatmospheric pressure in the chamber 123 to atmospheric pressure at the outlet 38 causes the liberation of substantial amounts of oxygenenriched air. If it is desired to collect and isolate such oxygen-enriched air, there may be provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention a suitable collection means including a conduit 40 connected to the enclosure 70 and valve controlled as indicated by a valve 41 in the conduit 40 so that a supply of oxygen-enriched air may be directed through a conduit outlet 42 to a point of utilization.

The embodiment of FIGURE 3 will operate as an air compressor if the air-rich stream is throttled back surficiently. For example, the tank or enclosure 147 can be located at ground level and will act as a knock-out drum for entrained water.

If the embodiment of FIGURE 3 is operated as a hydraulic ram, a larger flow will be allowed up the air-rich line 157 and the tank or enclosure 147 will then be located at an elevated position from which the water contained therein can flow to either a point of utilization or storage. In either case, the enclosure 70 will function to separate an oxygen-rich stream as the dissolved oxygen is freed from the water.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 2 a downcomer is shown at 80 which is positioned within a shaft 81 as a center line tube and has a discharge opening 83 adjacent a bottom wall 84. The bottom wall 84 and the side walls of the shaft 81 serve to reversely flow the downcoming stream in an upwardly flowing direction, whereupon the deflection means in the embodiment of FIGURE 4 act upon the upwardly flowing stream. In this embodiment, the deflection means takes the form of a spiral flight shown generally at 86. The flights of the spiral deflector means may have outer edges of rubber, as shown at 87 or some other suitable sealing means to give a tight fit against the adjoining outer wall 88 of the shaft 81.

The upwardly spiraling stream will have air bubbles pressing against the lower side of the spiral flight. By the time the stream reaches the top of the spiral, most of the bubble-rich fluid will be pressing against the lower side of the spiral flight. Accordingly, the discharge edge of the spiral flight, as shown at 89, is in register with a funnel 90 connected to a conduit means 91 forming an air-rich liquid discharge line. The lower zone which is liquid-rich fluid is discharged by the spiral flight past the funnel entrance and passes upwardly in the annulus 92 surrounding the downcomer 80.

I11 FIGURE 5, a shaft is shown at 93 and has a bottom wall 94. A downcomer 96 extends into the shaft 93 adjacent the side walls thereof and includes an outlet 97 adjacent the bottom wall 94. The confined zone provided by the bottom wall 94 and the side walls of the shaft 93 reversely flow the downcoming gas-liquid mixture in an upwardly flowing direction. In this form of the invention, there is provided a deflector means which includes a conduit 98 having a plurality of awning-like baflies shown generally at 99. Each baflle 99 has an inclined upper wall 100 and further includes an upper edge 101 connected to the conduit 98. The interior of the conduit 98 communicates with the spaces underneath the awning-like baflies through openings 102. Suitable end walls are also provided for the awning like baflies 99.

In each baifle 99 on FIGURE there is shown a level line 103. These lines 103 indicate the air-water interfaces if the discharge of the conduit 98 were throttled back to operate the unit as an air compressor. If a freer flow through the conduit 98 is permitted, then the lines 103 can be considered as interfaces between a bubblerich zone and a bubble-lean zone.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a hydraulic compressor, a downcomer comprising a cylindrical conduit disposed on a vertical axis for directing a stream of liquid downwardly from an elevated source, means forming a chamber at the lower end of said downcomer receiving the liquid at increased hydrostatic pressure and having an outlet at the upper portion thereof, a collecting hood substantially covering said chamber and including side and upper walls, said side walls being spaced from the adjoining side walls of the chamber to form an annulus, said upper wall having an opening formed therein radially inwardly of said an nulus for connection toa passage-forming means, said side walls being in concentrically outwardly spaced relation to said downcomer, and deflector means comprising a plurality of vertically spaced apart inverted conical baflle means disposed below said collecting hood and said annulus to split the fluid passing upwardly in said chamber into a bubble-rich portion and a substantially bubble-free portion, said baffle means operative to guide and direct upwardly flowing bubbles inwardly toward said opening in said collecting hood while the bubble-free fluid is directed upwardly and outwardly to said annulus, whereby liquid may be elevated through said opening in said collecting hood to a level higher than the level of said chamber outlet.

2. In .a hydraulic compressor, a downcomer comprising a cylindrical conduit disposed on a vertical axis for directing a stream of liquid downwardly from an elevated source, means forming a chamber at the lower end of said downcomer receiving the liquid at increased hydrostatic pressure and having an outlet at the upper portion thereof, a collecting hood substantially covering said chamber and including side and upper walls spaced above the bottom of said chamber but below said outlet, said side walls being spaced from the adjoining Walls of said chamber to form an annulus, said upper wall having an opening formed therein radially inwardly of said annulus, a passage-forming means connected to said opening and extending upwardly, said side walls being in concentrically outwardly spaced relation to said downcomer, and deflector means comprising a plurality of vertically spaced apart inverted conical baffle means below said collecting hood and said annulus to split the fluid passing upwardly in the chamber into a bubble-rich portion and a substantially bubble-free portion, said baflle means operating to guide and direct upwardly flowing bubbles inwardly towards said opening of said collecting hood while the bubble-free portion is directed upwardly and outwardly towards said annulus, whereby liquid may be elevated through said opening in said collecting hood and into said passage-forming means to a level higher than the level of said chamber outlet.

3. In a hydraulic compressor as defined in claim 2, collecting means superjacent said passage-forming means for collecting nitrogen-enriched gas.

4. A continuous hydraulic ram comprising a downcomer having a hopper portion at the top thereof receiving liquid from an elevated source, said hopper portion having lower converging wall portions terminating in a downcomer conduit of reduced size, a plurality of vertically disposed open-ended air tubes in said hopper each having an upper end communicating with the atmosphere and each having a lower end extending into said downcomer conduit, thereby to assist in mixing air and water in said downcomer at elevation and directing the mixture of air and liquid downwardly, said downcomer conduit directing the mixture downwardly, means forming a collection and separation chamber at the lower end of said downcomer receiving the mixture of liquid and entrained air at increased hydrostatic pressure, said chamber having an outlet at the upper portion thereof, a collecting hood substantially covering said chamber and including side and upper walls spaced above the bottom of said chamber but below said outlet, said side walls being spaced adjoining the walls of said chamber and forming an annulus therewith, said upper wall having an opening formed therein inwardly of said annulus for .connection to a passage-forming means, said side walls being in concentrically outwardly spaced relation to said downcomer, and deflector means comprising a plurality of vertically spaced apart inverted conical bafliemeans below said collecting hood and said annulus and cooperating with said downcomer to guide and direct upwardly flowing bubbles inwardly towards said opening of said collecting hood While the bubble-free fluid passes upwardly and outwardly to said annulus for discharge through said outlet, whereby liquid may be elevated through said opening in said collecting hood to a level higher than the level of said chamber outlet.

5. A continuous hydraulic ram as defined in claim 4, and a passage-forming means for directing liquid upwardly connected to said opening in said hood, said passageforming means having an outlet at a higher level than said outlet of said chamber.

6. A continuous hydraulic ram as defined in claim 5, and collecting means superjacent said outlet of said passage-forming means for collecting nitrogen-enriched gas.

7. In an hydraulic compressor as defined in claim 1, said baflie means including a vertical row of separate inclined battles, the uppermost baflies being of steeper slope than the lowermost baflies, thereby to improve the collection of bubble-rich fluid.

8. In an hydraulic compressor as defined in claim 1,

said battle means including a vertical row of separate inclined baflies, the lowermost baflles being uniformly vertically spaced apart and the uppermost batfles being more closely spaced together than the lowermost baflles.

9. In an hydraulic compressor as defined in claim 1, said baflie means including a vertical row of inclined bafies with the uppermost baflies being of steeper slope and more closely spaced together than the lowermost baffles.

10. In hydraulic apparatus, a downcomer disposed on a vertical axis for directing a stream of gas-liquid mixture downwardly, means forming a confined zone at the bottom of said downcomer to reverse the flow of the stream upwardly at increased hydrostatic pressure, .deflector means'for splitting the stream into upflowing bubble-rich and upflowing liquid-rich portions and for deflecting upwardly moving bubbles at spaced points in said upwardly flowing stream toward a common collection zone and without requiring the bubbles and the liquid-rich portions .of the stream to flow countercurrent to one another, means for conducting the bubble-rich fluid from said collection zone .to a point of .utilization, and means for conducting the liquid-rich portions of the stream upwardly and outwardly.

11. In hydraulic apparatus as defined in claim 10, said deflector means comprising a pluralityof vertically spaced inverted conical baflie meansand a collecting hood overlying said baflle means to receive the bubble-rich fluid.

12. In hydraulic apparatus as defined in claim 10, said deflector means comprising a spiral flight, whereby the bubble-rich fluid will press against the lower side of the spaced turns of the flight.

13. In hydraulic apparatus as defin'edin claim 10,-said deflector means comprising a vertical roll of plural spaced apart awning-like baflies, and said means for conducting the bubble-rich fluid from said collection zone to a point of utilization comprising conduit means having openings communicating with the space under the baflies to collect the bubble-rich fluid.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 969,727 9/10 Roed "103-232 1,028,209 6/12 Harris 103232 1,144,342 6/15 Andrews 103-232 1,154,745 9/15 Browne 103232 1,421,513. 7/22 McConney 103-232 JOSEPH H. BRANSON,JR., Primary Examiner.

LAURENCE V. EFNER, Examiner. 

1. IN A HYDRAULIC COMPRESSOR, A DOWNCOMER COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL CONDUIT DISPOSED ON A VERTICAL AXIS FOR DIRECTING A STREAM OF LIQUID DOWNWARDLY FROM AN ELEVATED SOURCE, MEANS FORMING A CHAMBER AT THE LOWER END OF SAID DOWNCOMER RECEIVING THE LIQUID AT INCREASED HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE AND HAVING AN OUTLET AT THE UPPER PORTION THEREOF, A COLLECTING HOOD SUBSTANTIALLY COVERING SAID CHAMBER AND INCLUDING SIDE AND UPPER WALLS, SAID SIDE WALLS BEING SPACED FROM THE ADJOINING SIDE WALLS OF THE CHAMBER TO FORM AN ANNULUS, SAID UPPER WALL HAVING AN OPENING FORMED THEREIN RADIALLY INWARDLY OF SAID ANNULUS FOR CONNECTION TO A PASSAGE-FORMING MEANS, SAID SIDE WALLS BEING IN CONCENTRICALLY OUTWARDLY SPACED RELATION TO SAID DOWNCOMER, AND DEFLECTOR MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY SAPCED APART INVERTED CONICAL BAFFLE MEANS DISPOSED BELOW SAID COLLECTING HOOD AND SAID ANNULUS TO SPLIT THE FLUID PASSING UPWARDLY IN SAID CHAMBER INTO A BUBBLE-RICH PORTION AND A SUBSTANTIALLY BUBBLE-FREE PORTION, SAID BAFFLE MEANS OPERATIVE TO GUIDE AND DIRECT UPWARDLY FLOWING BUBBLES INWARDLY TOWARD SAID OPENING IN SAID COLLECTING HOOD WHILE THE BUBBLE-FREE FLUID IS DIRECTED UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY TO SAID ANNULUS, WHEREBY LIQUID MAY BE ELEVATED THROUGH SAID OPENING IN SAID COLLECTING HOOD TO A LEVEL HIGHER THAN THE LEVEL OF SAID CHAMBER OUTLET. 